Improvement in machines for shearing sheep



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.' I

A. WVASHBURN, OF MEDINA, AND T. BRINTNALL, OF YORK, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SHEARING SHEEP.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,103, dated October23, 1866.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALvAH WASHBURN, of Medina, and THOMAS BRINTNALL, ofYork, in the county of Medina and State of Ohio, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Sheep-Shears; and we do herebyr declare thefollowing to be a full, clear,and eXact description of the same,sufficient to enable one slilled in the art to which the inventionappertains to make' use of it, reference being had to theA accompanyingdrawings, which forni a part of this specification, and in which- Figure1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 isa detached view ot' the shears andflexible attachment thereof to the tumbling-shaft.

The shears are provided with a shield over the cutters, to prevent thewool being cut more than once, and are attached by means of flexibleconnections and tumbling-rods to a counterbalance-arm, which is pivotedupon-a standard, on which is placed the drivin g-wheel which gives thevibrating motion to the knife.

In the drawings, A is a base, which may be a removable board, a bench,or table, as may be convenient. From it rises a standard, B, whichai'ords support for the axis C, which is common to the drivin gwhee1 Dand the counterbalance-arm E.

To the driving-wheel axis is attached the crank-handle F, and the motionof the driving-wheelis communicated to the smaller wheel G on the upperend of the arm E by means of a band or cord, H, which runs in grooves inthe peripheries of the respective wheels.

The arm E is capable of motion in a vertical plane at the option of theshearer. The wheel being continuously turned by an assistant, theshearer draws down -the end of the arm, so as to bringthe shears to theconvenient position for application on the animal.

. To the axis of the Wheel G is attached a exible coupling, I, which, bymeans of the tumbling-rod J and flexible coupling K,is connected to theaxis L of the crank M, by which the cutter-bar N is vibrated.

The cutter-bar N is pivoted in the case O, and vibrates between theguards P and shield R, Fig. 2.

The shears, as has been said, have a guardplate, P, whose rear extensionforms a bearing for the crank M, which operates the cut- The forward endof the cutter-bar has teeth n, whose vibration forward and backward overthe edges of the guards severs the wo'ol which comes between them.

The wool when cut lies upon the shield, and is restrained from fallingagain into the jaws and being again cut and shortening the staple.

. The weight ot' the shears is counterbalanced by the weight S, which isadjustable at the portion cot'the arm E, bein g setat therequiredposition by the set-screw e.

The shield R is adjustable toward and from the points ot' the guards,and is attached by screws m to the guard-plate P, clips partiallyinclesing the boss on tbe rear of the guardplate, and also its straightportion, as seen ii Fig. 2.

To facilitate the withdrawal of the crank M-'its lower bearing is placedin a plate, 19, which is unfastened by removing the screws Havingdescribed our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

l. The swinging arin E, with a counterbal ance-weight, substantially asdescribed.

2. The shaft or tumbling-rod J with liexible connections I K, operatingsubstantiall y as described.

3. The adjustable shield R, covering the scribed.

ALVAH WASHBURN. THOMAS BRINTN ALL.

Witnesses l J oHN MGOORMICK, L. B. BRINTNALL.

fknives, and operating substantially as de- Y

